"A dark plan rises as a legacy fades; One of Demons, and one of Jade"

Starting Points

The distant lands of Tian Xia contain the promise of an unlimited number of mysterious and captivating spectacles, but also within this mystical realm is the ever-lurking fear of the unknown and the untrustworthy. After all, not everything is as it seems in Golarion, and this holds doubly true in this part of the world, where the lands themselves seem to constantly change, simultaneously enchanted by the benevolent kami and plagued by the demonic oni. Wary adventurers know to carefully scrutinize even the most mundane creature, as it can just as easily change shape into either something equally harmless or a monster of devastating proportions. Regardless of the ever-shifting nature of Tian Xia, one crucial rule remains constant: keep your eyes open.

In the Jade Regent Adventure Path, PCs will travel epic distances with a crew of lively NPCs, starting in the familiar nation of Varisia and ending up on the other side of the world. As a result, the primary element you should keep in mind when creating your character is the fact that while the Adventure Path begins in Sandpoint, it won’t stay there—build your character as someone eager to leave this quiet town to seek adventure elsewhere in the world and you’ll be set! This guide’s purpose is to help players create and equip their characters so they can readily take on the challenges and trials they will face along the journey to a different continent. In addition to spoiler-free details pertaining to the types of areas PCs are most likely to encounter on their legendary voyage, this guide will provide campaign traits to f lesh out characters’ backgrounds, advice on races and classes, and rules regarding their relationships with important NPCs and the caravan they’ll be traveling with.

Starting in Sandpoint

The Jade Regent Adventure Path begins in the small town of Sandpoint on the west coast of Varisia—but it isn’t going to stay there. The Jade Regent Adventure Path will be leaving the comfortable town of Sandpoint before the first adventure in the campaign is done. While your character should be from the town of Sandpoint (or at least from that region, if only to explain how your character established his or her relationship with one of the four key NPCs), you should avoid building in any long-term character goals that require your PC to remain in town. The Campaign Traits mostly encourage a sense of adventure and wanderlust and a desire to see the world beyond Sandpoint, but part of the responsibility for cultivating that mindset falls upon you as the player. Remember that when you sign on to play an Adventure Path, you’re signing on for a specific story. While you still have an enormous amount of freedom in designing your character, if you focus your design choices on ones that fit this Adventure Path’s theme of long journeys, you’ll have a much more enjoyable and rewarding experience in the end!